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E63 5.5 M157 Spark Plugs

E55BOF

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Good evening all. I'm looking to buy some spark plugs for my 2012 E63 Biturbo. I gather that Bosch ZR6SII3320 plugs are what I need, but if eBay is to be believed, the OE part number is now 0242140521, and not 0041598103. Can anyone confirm that the older number has been superceded?
 
Nobody knows? It gets worse for me...

I'm totally confused now. Everybody seems to agree that the Bosch part no. is ZR6SII3320, but I've been given three different MB part numbers: A0041598103, A0242140521, and A0041596403; the last is what was fitted by MB Cambridge in November 2015, 40K miles ago.

MB Newcastle, from whom I will be getting my plugs, says that A0041598103 is the current plug for my car, but of course either or both of the other part numbers could be superceded. If MB Cambridge fitted the wrong plugs, I might ask them for a contribution to the cost; the correct plugs should not be giving trouble so soon.
 
Nobody knows? It gets worse for me...

I'm totally confused now. Everybody seems to agree that the Bosch part no. is ZR6SII3320, but I've been given three different MB part numbers: A0041598103, A0242140521, and A0041596403; the last is what was fitted by MB Cambridge in November 2015, 40K miles ago.

MB Newcastle, from whom I will be getting my plugs, says that A0041598103 is the current plug for my car, but of course either or both of the other part numbers could be superceded. If MB Cambridge fitted the wrong plugs, I might ask them for a contribution to the cost; the correct plugs should not be giving trouble so soon.
I would put some money on the lottery if you receive a contribution from MB Cambridge, as it will be your lucky day. Try another main dealer you trust, and if they quote the same as MB Newcastle then you you know which to go for. Fingers crossed that plugs sort it.
 
I'm still confused... I'm assuming that MB Cambridge fitted plugs under the old 6403 part number, which has been superceded by 0521, which itself has been replaced by 8103. (MB Newcastle say the 0521 does not exist, which presumably means it, too, has been superceded; it certainly used to exist, because it comes up numerous times on eBay in connection with Bosch ZR6SII3320 part number). MB Newcastle are selling the 6403 for the OM276 engine at present; that, too, comes up on eBay. So do a couple of sellers from Germany offering the 0521 and the 8103 as the same plug.

So what have I learned? Well, Bosch quote their ZR6SII3320 part number for pretty much all the Mercedes V6 and V8 petrol engines from about 2012 to 2016:

Double Iridium Spark Plugs | Bosch Auto Parts:

so it doesn't matter in the least what MB's part number is

Or does it? :crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:. My brain hurts, Brian...

And there's more...(!)

According to more than one contributor on MBWorld, the cause could also be leaking cam(shaft, I presume...) sensor plugs allowing oil to wick up the engine harness, causing misfires. I've never heard of that one before; has anybody else on this side of the pond?
 
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Nope! Have you any issues with the coil packs? Also you mention the plugs were 40k old, right? MB Cambridge will probably deny responsibility if that’s the case....
 
0242140521 is not an MB part no -it may be a Bosch number or a stock number
Only number MB epc recognises is A0041598103

I suspect that A0041596403 refers to the same plug but in sets of 6?
 
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It may also, perhaps, have been an MB part number in the past; I've asked a question about superceded part numbers in the past at my local main dealer, and was told that they disappear from their epc after a while. It may not be a coincidence that it has ten digits, as do the MB part numbers for their plugs (or if the Bosch applications list is correct, one and only plug...).
 
Further digging would appear to indicate that A0041596403 is a double platinum plug whereas the A0041598103 is double Iridium???????????????
 
That's interesting. I was beginning to wonder if it was just a case of cynical marketing, i.e. the "AMG Factor" that means AMG spares always seem to cost more than a non-AMG equivalent, even when there's little difference - vide a front number plate mount for a W211; £30, but for an E55K; £100 or so, when all that's different is a slightly altered moulding needing a few ounces of extra plastic - and that the only difference between the two plugs was the part number on the box...

Is Iridium better than Platinum as an electrode material, I wonder? Bosch certainly list the double Iridium for my car, but there are only a few quid in it from MB Newcastle, so I might as well buy the MB OE anyway.
 
Iridium is reckoned to last arc erosion better than platinum I believe, so plug change service intervals can be extended somewhat- sorry I have no % increase figure to put on that!
 
Iridium is reckoned to last arc erosion better than platinum I believe
It does. It also stops "whiskering" on two-stroke engines, as I learned when I had a Fantic sports moped in the 1970's (showing my age!).
 
Ah! The Frantic Fantic, as they were known... And if you really, really liked them, that made you a Frantic Fantic Fanatic...
 
I ported mine and made an expansion chamber for it too :)

I also tried running it on methanol which worked quite well :) :) :)

Somehow I fancy this thread is drifting off-topic, somewhat!
 

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